Invasive pest threatens boxwood plants in Clarke and Loudoun Counties

RICHMOND, Va. — The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) has confirmed the presence of the invasive box tree moth (Cydalima perspectalis) at four sites in Clarke and Loudoun Counties, marking the first known detection of the pest in Virginia.

The box tree moth is an aggressive insect capable of severely damaging or even killing boxwood plants (Buxus species). Its caterpillars feed voraciously on the foliage, often leading to complete defoliation in cases of heavy infestation. VDACS announced that it will treat boxwood plants where the pest is confirmed.

Native to East Asia, the box tree moth has become a destructive pest in Europe and was first detected in the United States in 2021 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) in New York. Since then, it has been identified in Delaware, Massachusetts, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

“Early detection and rapid response are vital for the management of any newly introduced invasive pest,” VDACS said in a statement. The agency has already surveyed the surrounding areas of the Virginia detections and plans to continue surveillance efforts.

Property owners are urged to report suspected boxwood damage using the VDACS Invasive Species Reporting Tool.

To assist the public in identifying box tree moth life stages and damage symptoms, VDACS has provided an identification guide available at:
www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/content/dam/pubs_ext_vt_edu/ENTO/ENTO-445/ENTO-445.pdf

Additional information can be found at:
USDA APHIS – www.aphis.usda.gov/plant-pests-diseases/box-tree-moth
VDACS Plant Industry Services – www.vdacs.virginia.gov/plant-industry-services.shtml
Or by contacting VDACS at 804-786-3515.

Edited by Dan McDermott